God Among Us

The prophet Isaiah’s words inspire us with their beautiful cadences and lofty heights. They confront us with stern rebukes and correction. Isaiah is the source of nearly one quarter of the Old Testament quotations and allusions cited in the New Testament. In sheer size, it is second only to the Book of Psalms in length.

Most important, Isaiah gives us a unique understanding of Jesus the Messiah, who fulfills many of these prophecies given 700 years before his birth. For this reason, Isaiah is sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel.”

As Isaiah’s words echoed throughout Judah, very few were actually listening. The message God gave Isaiah to speak to Judah, was not what they wanted to hear. Embedded inside the many warnings and indictments was a beautiful and astonishing promise, God would one day come to earth.

Eight hundred years later, Jesus announced that He was God in the flesh in “14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD. “And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus was the fulfillment of many Isaiah prophesies, but once again like when Isaiah was prophet to Judah, very few were listening

There are many prophesies spoken by Isaiah that the life of Jesus very clearly fulfilled. Here are a few of the prophesies about Jesus found in Isaiah

A descendant of Jesse

“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.”

Miraculously born of a virgin

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

A miracle worker

“Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.”

Pierced and crushed for us

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”

Our sin bearer

“Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.

Rejected by His people

“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face he was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

The overwhelming evidence tells us that Jesus is God among us. Jesus came to bring us into a complete relationship with God. Jesus perfect sinless life, death and resurrection completely satisfied our great Heavenly Father! Isaiah tells us how Jesus would do this in “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all”.

Our sins separate us from a holy and righteous God. Jesus’ death on the cross paid for our sins, past, present and future! He invites us into a relationship that will last forever! Why not trust in Jesus as your only way into heaven and lasting relationship with our gracious Holy God! Are you listening?

Lord Jesus your death and resurrection form the very foundation of my faith, the source of my hope and purpose, the wellspring of my salvation, the assurance of my peace and the basis of my eternal life with you. Jesus, I know that without you I am incapable of living life that is pleasing to God. I have fallen short of your goodness, your glory and your standards. I am in a desperate situation without your grace and mercy found in the cross of Jesus, my Savior. Jesus, you met the righteous requirement of justice through your redemptive sacrifice upon the cross. You set me free from the consequences of my sin! I praise God for his mercy and grace, may my life be a living sacrifice for your glory.

14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (ESV)

11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. (ESV)

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (ESV)

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,and the ears of the deaf unstopped; (ESV)

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,and with his stripes we are healed. (ESV)

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,because he poured out his soul to deathand was numbered with the transgressors;yet he bore the sin of many,and makes intercession for the transgressors. (ESV)

3 He was despised and rejected by men;a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;and as one from whom men hide their faceshe was despised, and we esteemed him not. (ESV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned—every one—to his own way;and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all. (ESV)

Sean Ewing

There was a time when I was a corporate cube farm dweller, managing IT projects. These days I occupy my home basement office working as an IT project manager. My passion has nothing to do with the conundrum of managing software development. Rather, my true passion is living and serving to bring God glory.